Day Five

This post is a little later because my day was longer..........just think about it for a while.


We started out baking another great loaf of banana bread-everybody helped and it went well. We were biding time while Grandpa got the boat ready for its first float . It took longer than he thought so we went over to my neighbor's goat farm for a visit. The goats were playing King of the Hill on the tree. The goat at the top, her name is Candy, beat everyone off and then jumped down herself and everyone left....the game always ends so abruptly so says their shepherdess!We followed them up to the other pasture and got a chance to pet them.

Hilary was just as curious about the kids as they were of her. She did little head butting wars with David, nibbled his flip flops and tried to eat his shorts-all of which entertained him greatly. Abigail put up with none of that and retreated to my side if Hilary lowered her head just the slightest-the horns looked scary to her.

After we went home and read books, watched a video, played John Deere trucks, princess dolls and had a million snacks...........Grandpa said the boat was finally ready! He showered while I put supper on the table and we all gobbled as fast as we could. When he finished his plate, the kids and I loaded into the car because I had the kid seats and we were not up to changing them around! -Bill in his van pulling the boat we headed out

for Welaka-just 12 minutes away to the St Johns River to launch the boat. We did pretty good for a couple of rookies and David was really a great hand with the ropes!

We are on the water at last and leaving the land lubbers dock behind! When Millie, the goat shepherdess, heard we were making our first boat ride later she gave us a map of the St Johns River so we felt armed and ready to go. We sure did use it and were very grateful for its information , twice in fact, during our voyage! Things look different from a boat and the shore looks the same in many places............we will learn!

We traveled for about 45 minutes north on the river until we came to a bridge that had to be raised by the keeper when you wanted to pass-we turned around and headed back south.
Bill felt the weight of his station, Captain, but did manage to smile quite a bit in spite of the responsiblity; I was pretty relaxed as First Mate because I was holding the map!

The kids loved most of the trip; David had investigated every inch within minutes of leaving shore; it felt like we had 7 little boys with us! Abigail felt safer in the cuddy cabin but did come out for a snuggle every once in a while! After the trip was over she said she loved it-


Both of the kids
were interested in
driving and Grandpa was very accomodating

We saw quite a few of osprey nests on top of the river markers.....
and this is Sunset Landing where we used to eat and watch the boats go by when our children were little. It is closed now, sadly, because we had a lot of happy memories there.

Managed to dock it again and pull it out without too many goofs..........what a great time-

we will repeat the trip later this week when the rest of our crew arrives! Hurray!

Day Four

This morning while Abigail played on the computer..........
I taught David how to play clock solitaire. He caught on immediately and we almost won it the second time around-one card off! It was so funny to see his tension/excitement as the king's pile grew!

We packed a picnic lunch to get ready to go to a friend's pond for a swim. Grandpa went into town to register the boat and took a bit longer than planned but we got off for our adventure finally! Neither of the kids hesitated to go into the water because everyone else was already in so they just joined right away. The water temperature was great-even I got right in! This is what all the kids were doing so David did, too...............ready, set, go!

Maybe I should have started out with Abigail's activity first to ease you into the kid's swimming activities! We put the swimmies on right after the picture; she got into the water too quickly but I came running with the camera and the swimmies......it is a faster pace than I am used to and I am out of practice but catching up quickly! Abigail was quite bold-traveling around the swim area and even trying the kayak and hitching a ride on Grandpa's back.

An afternoon storm blew up fast and we made a run for the house. We had a slight change of plans for the picnic but the food and company was just as fine indoors! The kids played for an hour and when the rain let up, we left for home amid many protestations of very good logic...

While eating we got a very important call from Caleb-he is now the proud Assistant Manager of the Lake City, FL, Sherwin Williams Store! Yes, it means a move and quite a few changes but this is quite the honor for a number of hurdles have been set aside to promote him to this position. We thank you , Lord.

When we got the mail back home-there was two very welcome postcards from Dad and Mom!(Grateful for both postcards to be there and you know how it would have played out if they weren't!)

For dinner hotdogs , macaroni salad, potatoes and deviled eggs rounded out the picnic theme; baths and the ending of Princess Bride which was a perfect fit for these two-a princess for Abigail and a sword fight for David; then on to prayers and bed! Whew!

Kids Day Three

Today we went to church and then to a restaurant for lunch, naps in the afternoon when they had wound down with a princess and some legos.

Then back to church for the evening worship service. The kids had fun running around with their new friends after church--I managed to collect them all for a quick picture! When we got home and changed into pj's we had popcorn and soda with a video treat before bed-David got to help Grandpa take the garbage out to the end of the driveway with the tractor-whoopee!

Day Two

We had a stay close to home day. First thing this morning, David and I made some banana bread.

Abigail and I went to the library when the bread was done while Bill and David worked on the boat-Bill is still going through all of the systems.

We got some outdoor time in before the afternoon rains admiring my new gates

It sure does boost the entrance to the property-I can't wait for it to be finished! Yes, I can because it already looks so much prettier!

While it was raining and thundering and lightening out the kids settled in for a good play with the 'new' toys we have in a chest just for them. This amazing creation is David's army helicopter to match the one from the toy chest. He is very good at engineering-imagine that!

We had a long walk after dinner and even had a shell hunt-David hid some of the seashells (ones he found at the beach yesterday) in the yard and we 'found' them. Bath, books and bed soon to follow, my daughter has a great routine established and there is no bedtime struggles....nice way to end the day!

Day One

Bruce, Marsel and kids arrived late last night for a weeks vacation. B and M are celebrating their 10th anniversary and heading off for 5 days on their own down in Clearwater; Bill and I get to keep the kids for them! We went to the beach, of course..............where the waves were perfect and the temperature just beckoned us! Even Abigail who seemed a bit intimidated at first jumped right in and her and Grandma just wave jumped for an hour! Grandpa and David were out a bit further and even tried some body surfing.......couldn't ask for more perfect conditions.

Next we took the boat ride on to the nearby Matanzas Fort and explored the grounds. It was full circle for Bill and I cuz we walked our own children here not so many years ago! In fact, I have a picture just like this of their mom with her brothers!

We all climbed onto the roof for some exploration......these guys are game for anything!

We had another climb after our tour, on the 'family tree' in the park..........a very majestic live oak that has held 25 years of our own children and friends and nieces and nephews..........

home for bath, books and bed------can't beat this for a first day!

PS...........

What?! Who has time to knit with the grandkids here? I do...........it was an hour there and back-so let us not waste car time! Of course, we sang B I B L E and Christmas Carols but my lips work, too, while the hands are knitting! More on my shawl later.............

Visit and Surprise

My two youngest sons were up for a visit; golf with Dad, new tires for Caleb's car needed to be put on and then Matthew surprised us by announcing he would paint our rusty wrought iron gates! Caleb finished his tires pretty quickly (Dad has all the tools he needed!) and worked on the other half. They got out the tractor and lifted it up with a chain and hauled it up for painting-it was in the high 90's so it was too hot to do it in the direct sun. The will put the second and final coat on next week! Thank you sons!

Caleb is in line for a promotion and needed some work shirts embroidered-a friend who used to work for his company, gave Caleb three new shirts but they had Ryan's name on it-I had to pick out the old name stitch by stitch , find just the right font and then re-write Caleb's-glad it worked out!

Flowers and Greenery

The rains have brought forth so much growth outside! The crepe myrtles are in full bloom. These were cut to the quick last spring and they are recovering nicely. I love the red flowers!

My mother's day gift from last year loves to brighten each day with its hibiscus flowers.

These clumps of portulaca grow all over the yard so I stick small bits into this pot of jasmine- they like the arrangement; so do we!

I killed the new orchid I bought a few months ago by putting it outside too soon and it didn't have time to adjust to the heat.........but first orchid is covered with blooms-it is very happy but I am going to get another fancy orchid and try again.

The dahlias from my dad are growing beautifully and still the blooms keep coming!

Dad sent us home with some new shoots for some blue flowering plants from the clump of plants I gave him several years ago-nice to have it go round like that! We will see how they do with the transplant.

Most of the garden is finished for now but we still have the butternut squash !

Bill and I take a walk most evenings and survey our little slice of Eden. Bill keeps wide paths mowed which make it pleasant to walk through the wild areas and gives a good view for things that slither. This is some kind of fennel for it smells just like dill but the plant isn't exactly like dill so we enjoy its aroma and the lacy beauty of the plant-it is 6 feet high now! While out by our pond, we always pause to listen to the pines sing- the subtle rustling sounds like far off traffic but it is the gently swaying of the trees and needles........quite captivating. This grove is about 60-70 feet tall. By far this is my favorite 'view' on our property. It is just one of the many mature live oaks that reside with us but this one is situated so perfectly. It is a feast to my eyes every day both in the morning and in the evening.........you can see why.

Ahoy, Matey!

Look what we came home with today! Bill has been looking for a boat that I will get in (has to have high sides and a canopy and real seats.....)

[Yes, he got a great deal on the bass boat but it is not wife-friendly so he kept looking and wow, 'he done good!' ]

Here it is, a 1993 Sea Pro Centra, 130 hp , 4cyl, 19.6' beauty with a cudy cabin. ( The canopy is in the cabin for transport.) I want to take it right out but Bill has to give it the once over-yes, reasonable, but patience is tough! We bought it to cruise the St Johns River for pleasure and fishing-plenty of room for my knitting and Bill's fishing gear. There is also room for friends so come for a visit!

See the proud new crew!

Birthday Boy Billy

Happy Birthday, dear husband!

Today we celebrate 57 years of Billydom in the world. What a ripple in the universe that day!